To dig or not to dig? Criteria for determining the suitability or acceptability of mineral exploration, extraction and transport from ecological and social perspectives

This paper describes criteria and indicators for helping to make decisions about the suitability of prospecting for, extracting, transporting, processing and disposing of oil and other minerals in sensitive environments.

The paper proposes a decision tree consisting of three filters, focusing on:

• protection status
• potential threats to biodiversity and the environment at both the site and landscape (downstream) level
• potential threats to vulnerable human communities

It argues that before any mineral activity (including initial prospecting and exploration) takes place, a full environmental and social assessment should be carried out and further action halted if the assessment suggests that subsequent activity is likely to damage environmental or human wellbeing. It suggests criteria for (i) a veto on mineral activity, (ii) a veto on mineral activity unless maintenance of critical ecological and social values can be maintained at site and landscape level, and (iii) conditions in which mineral extraction and related activities could proceed under conditions of responsible management.

The paper suggests that mineral activity should not take place in the following places:

• highly protected areas (IUCN categories I-IV, marine category I-V protected areas, UNESCO World Heritage sites, core areas of UNESCO biosphere reserves, and Natura 2000 sites in European Union countries)
• proposed protected areas within priority conservation areas selected through ecoregional planning exercises
• areas containing the last remaining examples of particular ecosystems or species even if these lie outside protected areas
• places where mineral activities threaten the wellbeing of communities including, particularly, local communities and indigenous people

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